5.6 What it Means to be Ready to Apply


Are You Ready to Apply for Social Security Disability?

In almost all instances that we see, the answer is usually no. Very few people who want to apply for disability benefits are truly ready to start that application process. Needing benefits and being prepared to apply for them are not one and the same.

You see, that majority of all SSDI or SSI applications applications for Social Security Disability benefits are initially denied. The reasons for being denied are many and varied, but often it comes down to the fact that the applicant filed prematurely or had not prepared the proper documentation to support their case. The most common non-medical reason for denying a Social Security disability claim is insufficient number of recent work credits. From 2001-2010, about 25% of all denied disability applications were denied for technical non-medical reasons.

When you file for benefits, you must be ready and able to show that:

  1. You are legally eligible to apply for benefits
  2. That you are disabled according to the definitions specified by the SSA
  3. That you qualify from an income or asset standpoint

In order to show all of the above, you need documentation. Medical records, bank records, pay stubs…the list goes on and on. Determining exactly what records you will need is itself a complicated process.

However, it is a process that has rewards. The more prepared you are before you file, the more likely you are to be granted benefits without having to go through an appeals process. That said, even if you are well prepared, the possibility still exists that you will initially be denied benefits and thus need to appeal.

If that is the case, your preparation will not have been in vain! All of that prep work and documentation collection will help you to effectively make your case at the appeals level, or if necessary the hearing level.

Regardless of what stage your application or appeal reaches, you’re going to need detailed documentation, and that is one of the key areas in which we can help you. We know what you’re going to need, and what the SSA is going to want to see. We can help you gather the documentation that you need to craft a solid case, and help you to present it in the right way.

To learn more about how our advocates can help you with your case, simply fill out the short form on the right or call the phone number at the top of this page.

For further SSI help or information on SSI back pay, contact Trajector Disability Advocates (formerly Myler Disability).

by Brad Myler